Road Racing a Norton Commando

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Looks like a Dunstall Commando would be eligable too ? ?

Road Racing a Norton Commando


" In 1966 Dunstall Motorycles became a motorcycle manufacturer in its own right, so that Dunstalls could compete in production races and the Auto-Cycle Union, which is the governing body for motor racing in Britain, approved Dunstall Dominators as a marque for the production race in the 1967 "

along with the drain pipe & Domiracer . :? ?
 
Rule 1 of classic and vintage racing.......Never make assumptions about machine or component eligibility.............check......with the appropriate official....non one else....
 
AHRMA vintage production class: 1972 and earlier, NO Dunstalls, NO fairings, NO short stroke's.

I started to read thru what it would take to run in the class.

The Production Racer is the best bet for a Norton. As it was available in 1972. Has the benefit of factory rearsets.

Unfortunately the JPN didn't arrive until late 1973/early 1974 so it is ineligible.

The Rules:
http://dev.ahrma.org/?page_id=1715
 
Actually, yes, the fairings would have to go; the rest can stay.

The rules read "1972 or LIKE DESIGN".

I can state for the record that I raced against a Ducati SS at Willow Springs in 2010 in both races (AHRMA, check the results archive on their website). The bike was completely legal, as would be a Norton PR. The fact that there is no difference between a '72 PR and a '74 would make the 74 legal as well.
 
Good to know. It's hard to tell just by reading their book, what the grey areas would be.
 
In AHRMA, the racers police themselves; the tech inspectors are NOT checking class specs, they are SAFETY inspectors only.

Like it or not, that IS the way AHRMA is run, and probably always will be until RACERS IN THE ORGANIZATION suggest rule changes that are implemented.

When I started out, I had a gripe about all the guys running aluminum wheels on bikes that never had them from the factory. I made mention of it to one of the other guys and he said I ought to file a protest. I got to thinking about it for a few minutes and decided it wasn't significant enough to make a difference.

What's far worse, but totally legal in Production classes, is that you can have a mind-blowing engine, as long as you use the OEM core parts including carb bodies.

Also bad enough is that you are at a distinct disadvantage with a pushrod twin against OHCs and triples.
 
Evidence-



I was able to stay ahead of him for a few laps (my little 650 Bonnie #142 is amazing at launching), but he nipped me in the Omega on the next-to-the-last lap and took me by about 100 feet at the finish.

Clip-ons & rearsets were OEM on that bike, not so sure about aluminum wheels.
 

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How can a 750SS Desmo be eligible then. ?
Wasn't even announced until Nov 1973 - at the Milan MotorShow.

Or are they using the 1972 GT750, and 'upgrading' it ?

grandpaul said:
The rules read "1972 or LIKE DESIGN".

I can state for the record that I raced against a Ducati SS at Willow Springs in 2010 in both races (AHRMA, check the results archive on their website). The bike was completely legal, as would be a Norton PR. The fact that there is no difference between a '72 PR and a '74 would make the 74 legal as well.
Click to expand...

bwolfie said:
AHRMA vintage production class: 1972 and earlier, NO Dunstalls, NO fairings, NO short stroke's.

I started to read thru what it would take to run in the class.

The Production Racer is the best bet for a Norton. As it was available in 1972. Has the benefit of factory rearsets.

Unfortunately the JPN didn't arrive until late 1973/early 1974 so it is ineligible.

The Rules:
http://dev.ahrma.org/?page_id=1715
Click to expand...
 
grandpaul said:
The bike was completely legal, as would be a Norton PR. The fact that there is no difference between a '72 PR and a '74 would make the 74 legal as well.
Click to expand...


Thats a fairly wild statement ?
There was no Norton 74 PR ??, so what would one look like ?
 
That is a 750 Sport (or lookalike) not a SS although there was a fairing available for the Sport (1971 to 75 ish)
No SS until 1974 and a 750 round case.
Desmodromic SS in 1975 in 750 and 900 (square case)
Only the Sport and 750 GT (1971 to 75) would be legal ? basically the same engine but higher c/r in the Sport.
Of course you could bore the case and fit a 905 cc Desmo top end for perhaps 80 rwhp on Dellorto's and Vee Two Australia parts. (if it were legal)
All SS's with spoke wheels had alloy Borrani's.
All 750 round cases had the same until the end of 1973,steel rims in 1974/5.
The 1977 Ducati 900 SD (I have one #559) might have been the first production bike to have magnesium (Campagnolo) wheels. ? (fwiw)

grandpaul said:
Evidence-



I was able to stay ahead of him for a few laps (my little 650 Bonnie #142 is amazing at launching), but he nipped me in the Omega on the next-to-the-last lap and took me by about 100 feet at the finish.

Clip-ons & rearsets were OEM on that bike, not so sure about aluminum wheels.
Click to expand...
 
There was no Norton 74 PR ??, so what would one look like ?
Rohan


http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/NCProddyRacer.htm

Road Racing a Norton Commando


:D

1973/74 saw a final attempt to sell 750 Commandos to would-be racers. This model was called the "TX750" (as was a Yamaha model at the time), which was short for "Thruxton Club Racer", after the circuit near which it was being produced by the few characters left over from the works race team. The bike, however, came too late. By then the TZ Yamahas in their 351cc form were far more competitive in the 750 class, being far lighter, and few TX750 machines were made, fewer if any raced in earnest. I know of several nearly-new TX750s, but not of one that was worn out in racing!

Road Racing a Norton Commando


was one with the funny yellow square seat in Australia back then , it is said .or pictured somewhare .
 
Sorry, yes, SPORT, not SS (Duc).

There may be no 74 PR, but you could use a 74 Commando, install similar hardware to the PR, and it would be legal under the current rules.

Believe me, I asked the technical ref at the time, Will Harding.
 
Have recently moved to within 10 minutes of Phillip Island, so am going to have to give serious thought to a track bike. Would be fun to fang the Norton around there. Will have to give this some serious thought.
 
davamb said:
Have recently moved to within 10 minutes of Phillip Island, so am going to have to give serious thought to a track bike. Would be fun to fang the Norton around there. Will have to give this some serious thought.
Click to expand...


Lucky you.

Whatever you get as a track bike, get some tall gearing... it's fast on that downhill pit straight!
 
davamb said:
Have recently moved to within 10 minutes of Phillip Island.
Click to expand...

Damn lucky. Tall gearing and litre sports bike would be my choice. Superfast straight. Norton with a full fairing would be interesting.
 
Thinking the old TRX might be retired from road rego and become the track bike.
 
davamb said:
Thinking the old TRX might be retired from road rego and become the track bike.
Click to expand...


I used to endurance race a TRX in the UK . We just put a pair of Keihin flatslides on it and it went really well. Great choice for a track bike.
 
I really hate the silly eligibilty rules that are based on year of manufacture and various models. As long as the bike nas a motor which is an aircooled fourstroke single, twin or triple with two valves per cylinder, all else that otherwise needs to be specified is the capacity class. I'd really love the opportunity to race my Seeley 850 against 851 Ducati Pantahs. Too many rules buggers racing.
Whenever I race I always look for the bikes with similar technology and capacity to my own, they are the ones to beat, anything else is irrelevant.
THE THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT ANY CLOWN CAN GET A TWO STROKE TO BEAT A THUNDERBIKE.
 
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